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Stage Play: ON THE HOLY TRAIL
Staged By: The Mustard Seed Art Company
Where: Kala Academy - Mini Open-air Auditorium
When: Dec 20 & 21, 2007 @ 7pm
Read a Review at:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2007-December/066558.html
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Even while Goa celebrated its Liberation day yesterday with various flags
hosting in various parts of Goa, for the villagers of Cavrem in Quepem and
Colamb in Sanguem it was different story; they faced police threats for
protesting against the open cast mining threats.
Ever since Gawada Kunbi Velip and Dhangar Federation (GAKUVED) organised its
Human Rights Day Rally in Quepem town, mining industry is at the receiving end
with number of villages gearing to battle mining industry. In Caurem village in
Pirla Panchayat limit villagers stormed three mining sites of different mining
companies such as Fomentos, Dinar Tarcar, and brought the entire process of
operation to the grinding halt since December 11 2007. In Colamb group of
villagers entered Fomentos mining site operated in lease area of Khodidas
Hiralal forced the company to the work on December 19 2007. Police from Quepem
Police station came searching the villagers at 11.50 am on December 19 2007.
However they were forced to beat hasty retreat away by the angry village women
of Colamb.
In Cavrem village, Fomento mining company throw its contractor Ashok Naik
threatened the villagers led by Kushali Velip with forcibly starting this
illegal mining activity with the deployment of 600 Personnel from Goa Police
force. According the reports received late last evening, Fomento mining company
was busy coercing the villagers to enter into the agreement to start mining
activity again with the promise that it will finance renovation of existing
temple in Cavrem village at the cost of Rs.2 Crores, a promise that company had
given to the villagers during past three and half years. It is now remains to
be seen if this carrot and stick policy of the mining company works on the
villagers. If Fomento mining company succeeds in getting 600 police personnel
for Goa Police and re-start its illegal mining activity then it would be
understood that Avdooth Timblo is Goa's de facto Home Minister that posseses
such a command to violate human rights of Cavrem adivasi villagers and s
lit open pristine green mountains of Maina-Cavrem.
Time is going to be the greatest witness as to how things are going to unfold
in near future.
In the meanwhile GAKUVED organised Public interactive meeting in Cavrem, Quepem
to asses the fruits of Goa Liberation for the adivasis of Goa on December 19
2007. Durgadas Gaonkar, GAKUVED Presedent, highlighted the role of Colamb
Communidade is marginalizing and ultimately eliminating Velips from the
Communidade records of the village.
Kushali Velip from Cavrem village explained the problems faced by the villagers
due to open cast iron mining and how the villagers united to assert thier
rights.
Rama Velip from Colamb shared his views about tackling mining industry of Goa
and need to creat inter village solidarity to stop official government
machinery and mining industry harrasing the villagers.
Ulhas Gaonkar from Morpilla shared about the ongoing struggle of his villagers
against proposed Bauxite mining on Quepem-Salcete border covering 300 hactares
of fertile land. He aslo shared about struggle against Vijay Mallya's proposal
to set beer factory and villagers opposition to the same.
Advocate John Fernanades from Ambaulim explained that most of the people who
took money from mining companies and sold thier land have suffered in thier
lives. He also touched upon the depletion of water table due to mining that is
going to cause in the Cavrem village in case mining begins again.
Devidas Gaonkar from Khotigao explained about harrasment meted out to the
adivasis inside Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary and registered his protest about the
same.
Anand Velip dealt on the great suffering of agriculture caused because of
mining in Sanguem Taluka. He also shared his experience in fighting mining
company in his village of Valkini in Sanguem taluka.
Motesh Antao of Colamb stressed need for mining truck drivers to engage in
protest against mining industry as the drivers job as well as life of their
truck is short term while the agriculture that is being destryed by mining
industry is a sustainer for generations together. Sebastian Rodrigues,
Cordinator of MAND explained how Portugues colonial legacy in Goa is being
perpetuated through mining industry and congratulated the villagers for
opposing mining in thier village though various means including by blocking
road used by mining trucks.
In the meanwhile Cavrem villgers got the resulation against mining within Pirla
Panchayat jurisdiction passed at the Gram Sabha on December 19 2007. Indded it
is noteworthy initiative of the villagers and movement of adivasis in defence
of their community rights from the mining industry.
Sebastian Rodrigues with inputs from Ulhas Gaonkar, Rama Velip and Anand Velip
--
www.mandgoa.blogspot.com
MAND
An adivasi-rights resource centre,
An initiative of Gawda, Kunbi, Velip, and Dhangar Federation (GAKUVED)
"Hari Smriti"
381, Dhulapi, Corlim, Ilhas,
Goa. Pincode: 403 110
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Spread the Christmas Cheer, even when you're not here!
Send classic greetings to your loved ones in Goa.
EXPRESSIONS - 2007 Christmas Hamper
Visit http://www.goa-world.com/expressions/xmas/
Or e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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